If you own a home with hardwood floors, you know that it can be difficult to find hardwood floor cleaners that are safe and effective. Luckily, there are some great options out there on the market, particularly if you are willing to order from somewhere else instead of going to your local big-box store. At Hardwood Bargains, you can trust that we have quite a bit of experience with hardwood and taking care of it.
Hardwood floors are absolutely beautiful, but they need quite a bit of maintenance to stay that way. However, when you do take care of them properly, you will end up with wood flooring that can last for decades.
There are so many hardwood floor cleaners out there, but which ones really qualify as the best? We’ll break it all down for you here.
Best Overall Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner
When looking for a hardwood floor cleaner, we wanted: high quality, affordable, and easily accessible. Enter the Method brand. Clean your hardwood floors quickly and easily with this plant-based, biodegradable formula. To use this product (that you can get at most Targets), just squeeze a small amount from the squirt bottle and mop it up—no rinsing required to get beautiful floors.
This formula doesn’t use wax. Instead, it uses organic solvents, baking soda, water, and coconut oil. The result is shiny and sweet-smelling floors. It even cleans up the white caulk between floorboards!
Best for Busy Homes: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray
If you want an extremely high-quality product, then the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray is going to be your best bet. It is extremely handy for spot cleaning thanks to the spray bottle, and it dries super-fast, making it even better for homes that don’t have a lot of “downtime” like those with kids or pets.
This is the hardwood floor cleaner with a Greenguard Gold certification, a low VOC, and is water-based. Often, these products aren’t as effective, but that certainly isn’t the case here.
Best for Penny Pinchers: Murphy Oil Soap Concentrated Wood Cleaner
If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on hardwood floor cleaner, then the Murphy Oil Soap is a classic option that you’ve probably seen generations before you use – and for a good reason. This solution is gentle on your floors and your bank account. It is great for hardwoods that need a little TLC, and you can really scrub if you need to.
One bottle of this cleaner lasts a long time, so you may want to consider that when you go to make a purchase. It is concentrated, and you will mix it with water (that’s it!). You can also use it on other flooring options as well, including vinyl, tile, linoleum, and pretty much anything else.
Best for Allergy Sufferers: Bona Free & Simple Hardwood Floor Cleaner
If you want something that is natural, then the Bone Free & Simple Hardwood Floor Cleaner is a great option for you. It is made without dyes or scents, and it has been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. It helps to remove dust and other particles from the air.
It is effective as well. It removes scuffs, picks up sticky residue, and is extremely easy to use. It comes in a larger size and doesn’t use dyes or synthetic ingredients either, making it a natural option.
Best All in One Cleaner: Bissell SpinWave Powered Hardwood Floor Mop and Cleaner
If you want to splurge and get an all-in-one cleaner, then you may want to take a second look at the Bissell SpinWave Powered Hardwood Floor Mop and Cleaner. This is an upright-powered floor cleaner that has a huge water tank and a built-in spinning mop pad. The adjustable spray trigger is effective, and it cleans extremely well. You use the power of the mop, not your own force to get everything moving.
The scrubby pads are included, and you can use those to get stuck on messes off kitchen floors. It is lightweight enough for almost everyone to use, and you won’t have to hurt your back or get down on the floor, making it great for kids who want to help with chores or for the elderly.
Best Concentrated Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Libman Hardwood Concentrated Floor Cleaner
This hardwood floor cleaning formula is ideal for people who don’t have a ton of storage for their floor cleaners. It has to be mixed with water within a bucket but pairs best with the accompanying mop. The bottle top is easy to use and pour, so you don’t have to worry about messes.
One bottle of this product makes up to four gallons of cleaner, so you will get a ton of use out of this bottle. It effectively removes sticky residue and dissolves scuffs, making it perfect for homes with children.
Best Wax for Hardwood Floors: SC Johnson Paste Wax the Original Formula
Wood floors all need some waxing to keep them in great shape. If you are done cleaning your floors and want to use the best wax on the market, this is perfect, especially for older wood floors. It leaves behind a beautiful sheen that isn’t sticky or slippery. You can use it on a wide range of materials as well!
In Conclusion
Almost all of the products on the market today will be effective at cleaning your hardwood floors, but it goes further than that. They need to be effective and safe for your floors. You don’t want to ruin something so beautiful, nor do you want to put your family in danger. You also probably also don’t want to spend hours scrubbing either. So, choose one of our recommendations to restore your hardwood floors’ beauty once again!
Sources:
CERTIFIED Bona shortlisted in 7 Best Hardwood Cleaners to Buy in 2019 | Allergy Standards
How to Clean Hardwood Floors | HGTV
Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality | EPA
